Cutting block



April 13, 1948. LE 2,439,652

I CUTTING BLOCK Fil ed June 20, 1946 1 Q .li'l gul 7 2 Patented Apr. 13, 1948 UNIT ED ()FFI CJE CUTTING BLOCK Leo 1F. Exley, Johnson City, or. Y., assiznor'to EndicottJohnson Qorporation, Endicott, N. Y a

corporation of New York Application dune 20, 1946, Seria1l No. 678,135

(oi. lei- 58) 6 Claims. 1 This invention is .a novel improvement in .cutting blocks, particularly those used inconiunction with sharp-edged cutting dies of poweroperated cutting machines.

The desirable and ideal prerequisites of such cutting blocks are that same should present a flat, smooth cutting surface in any varying .atmosphere, and that same should have a uniform predetermined density throughout the entire area of the top or cutting surface, which condition should remain unchanged throughout the entire useful life ofthe block even after repeated resurfacing of said top.

The principal objectof myinvention :is to provide a block of built-up or laminated type, the laminations being of fibre board or similar material, my invention consisting in changing the design of the laminations and the method or means of compressing and holding same together to entirely eliminate the use oi glue or other adhesives, thus resulting in economy of manufacture and producing a block giving lbetter performance and longer useful life.

familiarwith'the art to adopt and use the same;

and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations Heretofore, laminated blocks have been made in which the sections were lJlankednu-t, but such sections have heretofore been coatedkwith glue on both sides, then stacked up and compressed and held together icy flat iron side bands having rounded threaded ends, the side bands being located in grooves tormed in the sides of the laminations and the end members. Such prior construction has decided marked and obviousfaults. Fibre board is by its nature absorbent, and when glue is applied to the surface of' the-sections,

water enters into the'fibres of the sections which thickens or pimps same. It is in this wet condition that the sections of prior constructions have been clamped between the end plates and hence as the moisture leaves the sections, it has been necessary from time to time to tighten the nuts on the ends of the side bands. In actual practice a number of quarts of'water are used in the glue required in "forming a regular clicking machine block of prior construction, and it is a matter of days before this water is all removed by evaporationand the block is what may be termed .fseasonedq Under these circumstances, it is impossible to obtain any degree 0!.

of .parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing my complete cutting block.

:2 is a side elevation of the cutting block shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3,

4 is a plan view of one of the fibre laminations or sections, detached.

As shown, my block comprises spaced end plates I and 2, preferably formed of wood, each end plate'being provided with a series of holes la and 2a respectively, for the reception of tie rods '3 which are disposed adjacent the. ends and at the center of plates 1 and 2, the ends of which rods 3project beyondthe plates I and 2 and are threaded to receive nuts 4. Metallic strips 5 are provided with holes op osite the .bores tic-2a. thr u h which the ends of rods 3 project, the nuts 4 engaging the outer faces of the metallic strips 5, so that when the nuts 4 are tightened the strips 5 will distribute the pressure evenly across the entir width of the end plates 1 and .2.

The inner end of each recess la-2a is enlarged as at Ill-21), asshown in Fig. l, to receive the ends of metallic sleeves -.6, through which the tie rods .3 pass, sleeves .6 being somewhat less in length than the "distance between the basesof recesses Ila-21), so as to permit the plates I and 2 to be shifted somewhat towards each other when the nuts 4 are tightened.

Between the adjacent faces of the plates 4 and 2 are a series of laminations or sections 1, shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, each section I being made of thin fibre board of substantially the some area as the plates 4- and 2, and having holes la. therein for thepassage of the sleeves 6 for the tie rods 3. Each ofthe laminations or sections 1 is blanked-cumin the form shown in Fig. 4, with the holes 1a punched therein; also a plurality of ofisets b are simultaneously formed between theholes la as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the offsets being substantially rounded at 10- cations identical foreach section 1. As shown, three oifsets 3b are shown at each side of the central hole la, one offset being disposed sub stantially midway of the height of the section I, while the other two offsets of each group are disposed adjacent the upper and lower edges The offsets '!b on one side, and the resulting" and equal depression on the opposite side of each lamination or section 1 are approximately the same in measurement as the thickness ofblock' 1, so that when assembled the series of registering oifsets 1?) form in effect rods of the same material as the sections 1 extending theentire length of the assembled sections intermediate the end plates l and 2, but the simulated rods formed by the offsets lb of the sections effectively prevent any slippage or movement of any of the laminations or sections 1 with respect to adjacent sections. Y

After assembly, ferrules 8 may be inset in the sides of the block for the customary purpose.

In operation When the desired'number of laminations or sections 1 are assembled between the end plates l and 2 on the sleeves 6 as shownin Fig. 1, .the entire assembly is then initially compressed by means of a hydraulic press (not shown) or the like, to a predetermined degree. Then the nuts 4 are tightened on the ends of the rods 3, whereupon the assembled block is removed from the press.

In my cutting block, because there is no glue or moisture present, the assembled and completed block is now ready for immediate and'final finishing to the proper thickness, and surfaced by planing or any other material-removing means. The sleeves 6, being circular in cross-section, resist contortion, stresses and strains from all directions, and the same are so located, and disposed that they and the tie rods 3, within them, and the strips 5 will maintain and retain a uniform and equal pressure upon all parts of each lamination or section I; and hence consequent uniform degree of density or hardness over the entire surface used for cutting is effected. Also, any twisting, warping, or any other distortion of the block while in transit or use is prevented.

In practice, the interlocking offsets 1b and the holes 1a for the sleeves 6, and the outside dimen sions of each section 1, is formed simultaneously and progressively as the section stock passes through the punch press. The amount of pressure compression of the laminations in my block makes it immune to atmospheric conditions, and my'block never requires any further change or adjustment. My block therefore provides a marked economy in manufacture and provides a superior block in performance, as actually demonstrated in practice.

The important feature of my construction is the embossing of the fibre laminations or section blocks 1 which eliminate the necessity of utilizing glue in order to hold them in' place. No glue is necessary or is used in my construction and therefore the density and hardness of my block may be predetermined while being produced. The lack of glue prevents swelling due to moisture and obviates the necessity of continually having to adjust the nuts 4 in order to maintain a substantially constant pressure; and moreover my '4 construction results in a block of predetermined hardness.

My block also obviates the necessity of forging or welding round ends on the side irons, hereinabove referred to, commonly used in the prior art cutting blocks; and my supporting sleeves 6 may be formed of comparatively cheap standard pipe sectionsQriecessitating only cutting as to length: I eliminate the delay and labor costs involved in handling such as turning over blocks and tightening nuts in the process or seasonter performance and longer life, and I am able to initially compress my block to give the proper density and correct uniform hardness to the cutting surface, my block retaining such hardness throughout the useful life of the block.

The term correct density refers to the degree of hardness or condition of the block surface which is accepted and approved by cutting machine operators. If a block is too soft, the'cutting die is driven into and sometimes retained in the block. If the block is too hard, there is a disagreeable rebound to the die when struck. If the block is of correct hardness, cutting is'accomplished by the minimum of shock, and the die remains free on the surface of the block.

According to my structure, I am able to simultaneously produce any number of cutting blocks to a predetermined quality of hardness, all ofsuch'blocks being of uniform hardness and of unvarying quality; and I am able to control the density quickly by accurate press readings during the process of construction.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawing, for obviously changes may be made within the scope of the claims.

Iclaimr 1. A, cutting block, comprising a pair of end plates; a series of spaced rods extending through holes in the end plates; means on the ends for drawing the end plates towards-each other; tubular sleeves around the rods each having their ends entering enlargements of the holes in end plates; and a series. of thin laminations disposed edgewise between the end plates and of same height and width as the end plates, said laminations-having holes receiving the sleeves and having preformed offsets between the holes whereby the offsets of adjacent laminations will nest in exact register when the laminations are held compressed between the end plates. 2. A cutting block, comprising a pair of wooden end plates; a series of spaced rods each having threaded ends extending through holes in the end plates; nuts on the extending ends of said rods; tubular sleeves around the rods each having their ends entering enlargements of the holes in end plates; and a series of thin laminations of fibreboard disposed edgewise between the end plates andof same height and width as the end plates, said laminations having holes receiving the sleeves and having preformed rounded offsets between the holes, whereby the ofl'sets of adjacent laminations will nest in exact register when the laminations are held compressed between the end plates by said nuts.

3. A cutting block, comprising a pair of wooden end plates, a'series of spaced rods each having threaded ends extending through holes in the end plates; nuts on the extending ends of'said rods; tubular sleeves around the rods each having their ends entering enlargements of the holes in end plates, said sleeves being of less length than the distance between bases of the enlargements; and a series of thin laminations of fibreboard disposed edgewise between the end plates and of same height and width as the end plates, said laminations having holes receiving the sleeves and having series of preformed rounded offsets between the holes, whereby the ofisets of adjacent preformed laminations will nest in exact register when the laminations are held compressed between the end plates by said nuts.

4. In a cutting block having end plates connected by spaced rods; tubular sleeves around the rods having their ends entering holes in end plates, said sleeves being of less length than the distance between bases of the holes; and a series of laminations disposed edgewise between the end plates.

5. In a cutting block having end plates connected by spaced rods, a series of thin laminations of fibre-board disposed edgewise between the end plates having holes receiving the rods, said laminations being of same height and width as the end plates and having series of preformed offsets between the holes, whereby the offsets of adjacent laminations will nest in exact register 25 Number when the laminations are held compressed between the end plates.

6. In a cutting block having end plates conand having series of preformed offsets between the holes, whereby the offsets of adjacent laminations will nest in exact register when the laminations are held compressed between the end plates.

LEO F. EXLEY;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,079,599 Hurd Nov. 25, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 36,540 Austria Mar. 10, 1909 269,122 Italy Nov. 9, 1929 675,325 Germany May 5, 1939 

